How did you wean off Metoprolol?

Hello,
I took propranolol 10mg 4 times a day for a week. Had horrible side effects, was switched to metoprolol succinate 25mg once a day for 2 weeks, felt a little better but still many side effects, so I was on them for about 3 weeks only. I tapered down and took the last dose 6 days ago. The first day was horrible, then a little better the second, same on the third. However, I’m still having palpitations, dizziness, head feeling weird, some tachycardia (somewhat less today), weakness. I’m much better than when I was on the medication, that’s for sure. I had almost all of the side effects I could get and even ended up dehydrated in Urgent Care, also got anxiety for the first time in my life which has been horrible. So, my main question is: am I any close to the end of this road? I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to feel like myself again. I was put on this for occasional hypertension and tachycardia, which I believe was caused by stress. I would appreciate it so much if someone could help me with their experience. Thank you so much

I’m listing all the side effects I had with these medications, sorry for the long post:
✔️Blurred vision
✔️chest pain or discomfort
✔️like electrical current in head
✔️tingling, chills like on arms, back and head
✔️confusion
✔️palpitations
✔️dizziness, or lightheadedness when getting up suddenly from a lying or sitting position
✔️hair loss
✔️dry mouth
✔️hot flashes/heat intolerance
✔️sweating
✔️unusual tiredness or weakness
✔️insomnia, nightmares
✔️soft stools
✔️difficult or labored breathing
✔️difficulty with speaking
✔️extreme tiredness or weakness
✔️fast, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse
halos around lights
✔️headache
✔️overbright appearance of lights
✔️lose weight
✔️seeing, hearing, or feeling things that are not there
✔️tightness in the chest
✔️tingling of the hands or feet
✔️troubled breathing
✔️continuing loss of appetite that got to the point when only could eat liquids
✔️continuing abdominal pain
✔️continuing nausea
dark urine
✔️difficulty with moving
fever
✔️general tiredness and weakness
✔️hoarseness
✔️increased frequency of urination
✔️muscle pain
✔️sore throat
✔️sores, ulcers, or white spots on the lips or in the mouth-white tongue
✔️unpleasant breath odor
✔️weakness
✔️anxiety

Hello Kenny48. Don’t know if you still follow this thread, but if you do I would really appreciate it if you could tell me how long did the weakness and palpitations last after weaning off Metoprolol? It’s my 6th day and still feeling them. Thanks a lot.

I'm glad to hear the you will be following up with your doctor next week, @kancha.

If you are comfortable doing so, please post an update and let me know if your doctor offers you any other medication suggestions.

Thanks for your reply. Yes I do monitor my BP at home. I have an appointment with my Doctor only next week.

Hello @kancha
I'm under the impression that your doctor suggested the elimination of this med, is that correct? When I took metoprolol I had a lot of side effects as well. I was only taking 25 mg, though. My cardiologist substituted Atenolol and I felt much better. I do not take it at bedtime, but at noon which works much better for me.

As I have heart valve problems I take two different BP meds. One is an ACE inhibitor which is a marvelous drug to strengthen the heart's functioning and then the Atenolol, a beta blocker which keeps the heart rate from racing.

Have you reported the light dizziness to your doctor? Do you monitor your BP at home?

Hi, I was discovered Aflib last year. Have no high blood pressure, no diabetic. I was given Eliquis 5 mg and dilitazen and then metoprolol. Metoprolol had more severe side effects ; more pain in my joints, heavy loss of hair, feeling tired all the time and lack of apetite. So I stopped ( first reduce led the sizes and then stopped) for last one and a half month I am taking only Eliquis. I feel more fresh and better. Hair loss had stopped. My cardiologist had retired so the new one asked me to put Zui ( heat measuring equipment) for 14 days. He wants to try again the electro cardio version . I am waiting to see what the result of this new Ziu says.
I had no symptoms so far but last two weeks I felt light dizziness for few seconds. Can be due to heart condition I cannot say. Let me see what the cardiac report shows.

Hey Kenny,

A couple of quick things...

At last count (wearing monitor for three days) I had 32000 pvcs a day, Like you my pulse registers low... high 30s to low 40’s. That is not indicative of our actual pulse because cuffs don’t pick up/count all the pvcs.

Re: Metoprolol

I take 50mg/day. I found myself without them and without access to a pharmacy for 10 days. So I essentially went cold turkey. I felt and observed (personal cuff/monitor) no significant change... other than the angst of not knowing what to expect.

Unless, responses are coming from a medical professional, I’d not bank on them. Personally, use your personal monitor a few times a day (same time each day) to see how your heart responds and make sure you’ve got some in the cabinet should you need them. Good health and luck to you!

Ok, took my half dose for two days, today I'm supposed to stop entirely. I am feeling like a zombie. No get up and go, lightheaded. My BP is higher than it usually is but not thru the roof. 133/84 after doing some deep breathing exercises. Was 140/92 before. Doc said to go to emergency if it goes over 180. But that was the only thing they said to me. They said nothing about feeling like this. Mentioned some people get tachycardia. My heart rate is better than it was before 60,61 BPM but I feel so weak. They said nothing about this. Is this normal? When I asked about the tape off time, they said it's because I was only taking 25mg a day. Said it's a low dose, and I don't have to worry.

I was a bit worried because of what I had read online, regarding metoprolol. I was just worried that two days was not enough time. Since they say not to stop it suddenly.

Yes it is. After wearing a heart monitor for a month, he said I did not have one single pac the entire time, although I did have many pvc's. He doesn't think it's necessary for me to continue taking it. I am supposed to have an echo done the end of the month. He said he wanted me to be off it for at least two weeks prior. Evidently my last stress test showed something to do with reduced ejection fraction. Also he said my pulse rate is way too low. Thinks it's because of the metoprolol.